Manics Return To Rehearsal Studio - NME, 27th May 1995

Manic Street Preachers have been rehearsing for the first time since the disappearance of Richey Edwards on February 1.

James Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore met at Soundspace Studios, in Cardiff, from May 8 to 13.

The rehearsals were so that the remaining Manics could see how it felt to play together following Edwards’ disappearance. The band have also had meetings with their manager and record company to discuss the future, although they have been reluctant to commit themselves to any plans.

Sources close to the band say they are considering the possibility of touring and recording as a three-piece. However, an official spokesperson stressed no comeback plans have been made and said the Manics are unlikely to make any deﬁnite decisions for some months.

Meanwhile, the police hunt for Edwards has now been called off. PC Tom Gorringe, of Harrow Road Police station, said: "We are not investigating any more and Mr Edwards is no nearer to being found. He’s over 18 so he’s entitled to go missing. We have no reason to believe he has committed suicide."

PC Gorringe said officers had received more than 100 pieces of information regarding Edwards, although none had provided "strong or positive" leads.

He said: "We are still receiving two or three calls a week, but a lot of them are crank calls. If anybody does provide a definite lead we will follow it up, but at the moment there's nothing.”

Edwards disappeared on February 1 after walking out of the Embassy Hotel in Bayswater Road, West London on the eve of the travelling to America.

His car was spotted at the Auste Service Station, near the Severn Bridge, on February 14 and there have been no clues since. His bank account has not been touched since he went missing.

There have been numerous rumours circulating about sightings of Richey, but the Manics’ manager Martin Hall has stressed that there is no truth in any of them.